The Whimsical Route
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The Whimsical Route

The Whimsical Route

$65.00 USD
Sale Sold out

One trip is required per group.

* "PDF Instant Download" means the trip will be sent by email as a PDF document, and not by mail (the email is sent immediately after completing your purchase)

WHAT TO EXPECT

Get ready for a road trip where nature, history, hidden gems, and a touch of cinematic magic come together for a perfectly whimsical escape just outside the city!

Trip Highlights

  • Go on the search for some ruins and caves (we've provided an easier alternative as well)
  • Stop over for a lunch in a nearby hamlet overlooking the river
  • Explore a historic farm before taking a peaceful walk through the woods
  • Visit an old ghost town and learn about its history
  • Enjoy farm fresh food & drinks

AVAILABLE TO DEPART

Days of the week: Thursday through Sunday

Seasons: Year-round

Not recommended: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Holidays

SUGGESTED FOR

  • Families with older kids
  • History buffs
  • A quick trip from the GTA
  • Foodies
The Whimsical Route
The Whimsical Route
The Whimsical Route
The Whimsical Route
The Whimsical Route

Itinerary

STOP 1

Start your day your way—whether it’s wandering through towering cliffs, hidden caves, and historic ruins or opting for a peaceful garden stroll. Drive time to the second stop is 9 minutes.

STOP 2

Founded in 1825, this tiny village is full of character. Picnic under the trees, discover a stunning photo op, and hunt for treasures in a charming antique shop. Drive time to the third stop is 12 minutes.

STOP 3

Step into a scene straight from Hollywood at a famous filming location, hit the trails for a scenic hike, or kick back with a local brew! Drive time to the fourth stop is 11 minutes.

STOP 4

Sip a glass of something delicious at a countryside cidery, browse a cozy market, or take a detour to a forgotten ghost town.

Region

HaltonHills.jpg

Can depart from

London Area, Kitchener-Waterloo Area, Toronto Area

Before you go

What You'll Need to Bring

  • Camera
  • Cash
  • Outdoor Gear
  • Reusable Shopping Bags
  • Road Trip Snacks
  • Walking Shoes
  • Water
  • Snowshoes (optional)

Additional Details

  • Kid-Friendly
  • Accessible
  • Dog-Friendly

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

We're here to help!

Please see the approximate round-trip driving distances/times below. These are driving distances only and do not factor in time spent at stops:

  • From Toronto: 2 hours and 14 minutes / 157 km
  • From Oakville: 1 hour and 48 minutes / 103 km
  • From Hamilton: 2 hours and 16 minutes / 163 km
  • From Pickering: 2 hours and 34 minutes / 204 km
  • From Kitchener: 2 hours and 33 minutes / 172 km
  • From Vaughan: 2 hours and 4 minutes / 152 km
  • From London: 4 hours and 9 minutes / 345 km

This trip can be done in any season of the year.

This trip is best done from Thursday - Sunday. We do not recommend travelling between Monday - Wednesday or on holidays.

We recommend leaving anytime between 9:30 am and 10:00 am. The later you leave, the less time you'll have to explore all of the stops.

This trip is somewhat pet-friendly! Please note that most eatery recommendations are patio-only, so be sure to plan around the weather.

There are lots of year-round pup-friendly spots to explore if you’re happy with a car picnic/takeout.

We recommended bringing up to 5 people on your surprise road trip. If you're bringing a larger group, we highly recommend having one person in charge of booking reservations at the restaurants and attractions in advance. In your confirmation email, you'll receive a copy of the itinerary.

First Stop: No fee.

Second Stop: No fee.

Third Stop: Our featured stop is free. One optional stop has an entrance fee per person ($).

Fourth Stop: No fee.

After booking your trip, we'll send you a confirmation email with a few recommended accommodation options.

Customer Reviews

Based on 18 reviews
56%
(10)
33%
(6)
11%
(2)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
83.3
100.0
J
Jo-Ann Kelly
Overall, how would you rate this trip?:
I would not recommend this trip
Excellent! I would definitely recommend this trip
Rate how active the trip was:
Not very active
Very active
Rate how accessible the trip was:
Not very accessible
Very accessible
Rate how 'unique' the stops were:
Not really
Yes, very unique!
Nice day trip

The trip started out great with a nice hike. Lunch followed and we really enjoyed the restaurant suggested. The third stop was entertaining and we met several nice people. The fourth stop had two locations which could only be viewed from the road which was disappointing. We chose not to do the other two stops as they were not of interest and we were limited for time. Overall it was a nice day and we will definitely try another one

A
Al
Overall, how would you rate this trip?:
I would not recommend this trip
Excellent! I would definitely recommend this trip
Rate how active the trip was:
Not very active
Very active
Rate how accessible the trip was:
Not very accessible
Very accessible
Rate how 'unique' the stops were:
Not really
Yes, very unique!
No idea why it was referred to as a Whimsical Route...

The first stop was excellent, showcasing an attraction that was close to home, but new to us. Second stop from first envelope was interesting but not a lot to see.

Second stop was very familiar to us, so if we had known in advance where we were going we would not have picked this route.

Third envelope showcased a site that would be of interest to a film buff.

Fourth envelope was very disappointing. Two required on-line payment which we could not do (no cell phone), one was closed (we new this in advance), two were drinking (but our group are non-drinkers), one store not worth going to, and one was not an explorer - just a drive-by.

We're sorry to hear you didn't have the best possible experience with this road trip! When we created this trip, we found the small towns, businesses and greenery to be very whimsical, quaint and quirky, which is where the name comes from. I'm actually from one of the hamlets on this trip, so I totally understand when it can feel too familiar and close to home, but we hope you found something new to discover along the way :) - JB

U
Ula
Overall, how would you rate this trip?:
I would not recommend this trip
Excellent! I would definitely recommend this trip
Rate how active the trip was:
Not very active
Very active
Rate how accessible the trip was:
Not very accessible
Very accessible
Rate how 'unique' the stops were:
Not really
Yes, very unique!
Great family trip

A trip full of surprises. We thought we knew the area pretty well but this trip helped us find some new gems. Highly recommend this one for families of all ages. Both my 8 and 4 year old adored it.

A
Angie
Overall, how would you rate this trip?:
I would not recommend this trip
Excellent! I would definitely recommend this trip
Rate how active the trip was:
Not very active
Very active
Rate how accessible the trip was:
Not very accessible
Very accessible
Rate how 'unique' the stops were:
Not really
Yes, very unique!
Overall a great day!

The highlight is definitely the first two stops, so unique and charming. The kids loved it at something we would never do on our own, in order did we even know about! Have to agree with some other reviewers - stops three and four were pretty underwhelming, but what I like is that there were different options depending on your group and desires. The country markets were very charming and the very last to drive-by is super cool to see!

L
Lynn
Overall, how would you rate this trip?:
I would not recommend this trip
Excellent! I would definitely recommend this trip
Rate how active the trip was:
Not very active
Very active
Rate how accessible the trip was:
Not very accessible
Very accessible
Rate how 'unique' the stops were:
Not really
Yes, very unique!
Whimsical Route

A fun way to see new unknown spots

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